54. The battle
fifty-four
The battle
Ares
T he heat of the flames grazes over my skin as I stand between the burning trees, my gaze fixed on the skies as wyverns fly over, scorching the ground beneath them. It’s a play for them, a game to leave a trail of destruction.
They remained at the mountain peaks, pushed back by me every time they dared to crawl out of their caves, but now, Hephaestus breaks their leashes, setting them free as he gets what he has always wanted.
Power.
He never had any, only his slick tongue to get others to do his bidding.
Unhooking the clasps of my cloak and attire, I take a steady breath, knowing there’s only one way out of this, with both of us turned to ashes.
The roars, the cries fills my ears as my bones realign, breaking and growing until my skin tears from them and scales grow in its place.
Burned trees perish under my weight as my feet stomp on the ground, and a cry tears from my throat, calling those who dare to stand here against me.
With a sharp push off the ground, my wings cut through the flames and I lunge into the sky. The air is thick with smoke as I soar above the inferno. My wings beat in a steady rhythm, cutting through the dense plumes of smoke as the forest below burns, tongues of fire licking the treetops.
And there he is, flying between his allies, Hephaestus, a massive green dragon, his scales glinting like emeralds within the chaos. His eyes, like molten jade, lock onto mine, and his jaw trembles. Anger radiates from his form as I slow my pace, curling my body forward as I float mid-air, waiting for his next move.
His allies move around me as my focus stays on Hephaestus, knowing their attacks, their fire won’t do enough for me to fall back as all I want is Hephaestus’s blood on me.
The world blurs around me as I dive down with Hephaestus on me. Our bodies collide with such force, and the sky breaks with a thunderclap. Claws rake against scales, and the forest floor trembles beneath our weight as we plummet.
He breathes fire, searing and relentless, but it is met with my own. The black and orange flames mingle with his and lash out around us.
As his wings move, so do mine, hovering over the ground as our flames stay intertwined, connected.
The wyverns, small and agile, dart through the smoke-filled sky, shielding themselves within it, enough for me to miss their attack.
Claws break through my scales as they tear through my shoulder. I twist and turn, my tail lashing out, sending one crashing into the burning forest. Another latches onto my wing, its teeth gnawing at my scales. I circle around, curling faster as Hephaestus’s flames tease over me, until the wyvern flings through the air.
Hephaestus lunges at me with jaws wide, his teeth grazing my side as I barely twist away. Pain sears through me as my claws find purchase on his shoulder, and I dig in deep, feeling the crush of bone in my hold. My tail slams into his side, and he reels away.
We clash again and again, our fight a blur of black and emerald as I keep my power hidden. I know the meaning, what it would do to everyone around me.
Our dance of death remains amid the flames as the wyverns try to take their shots. An obsidian wyvern latches onto my neck, and a roar breaks from my throat as I thrash around. Hephaestus’s claws rake across my chest, and I realize my choices are limited.
My words were true, as it takes a god to kill one.
I fall backward, taking the latched wyvern with me until my body crushes him on the forest floor.
As I stumble on my feet, shaking off the broken scales, I glance up to see Hephaestus’s form hovering in the air as he gathers his flame at the back of his throat.
My feet dig into the ashy ground as the fire around me builds up my strength. The gold glimmer between my scales intensifies as power surges.
Death and decay spread around me. Every standing tree, every living creature, turns to dust, and my strength grows as I feed on their essence .
It’s pumping through my veins as it reaches further, taking the first wyvern. Screeches, cries of agony fill me, and I swallow hard as it takes me back. Images fill me, opening up scars I thought could never haunt me again.
I do what is needed to ensure Ethan’s and Rodi’s safety, and even if my life slips through my fingers, I know my death won’t take them with me as they have each other.
Hephaestus moves back as more lives are taken, but there’s no escape, there’s no control.
This is pure chaos.
Pure death.
Rodi
The water clashes against the shore, almost in the same rhythm as I hear the Dragonspire Mountains crumble behind us. My breath is short. My hands tremble as I grit my teeth.
He tossed us aside, thinking he would keep us safe. But even with our broken bond, I sense the unease, the tingle on my neck where his mark used to be.
We have to be there, helping him. Of that, I’m sure.
The Warden’s back is turned to us as I crawl closer to Ripley. “Want to make a run for it again? ”
Ripley snorts, a laugh lingering on his lips, but as he sees my stare and Ethan standing tall beside me, his shoulders slump.
“Flying away with you got me in trouble in the first place,” Ripley grits as he fumbles with his cuffs.
“Oh, don’t be mad at me because you couldn’t kill me,” I say with a taunting smile.
“And I’m regretting it,” he murmurs, but I already see I’ve won as his lips twitch. A glint of mischief glistens in his eyes as the cuffs open. “It seems my dear father didn’t fully agree with Ares’ plan.”
I smile and hold up my hands, urging Ripley to take mine off. His fingers work around the locks as his brows pinch together.
“I’m not going to ride him, just to be on the same page,” Ethan cuts in as he gazes at the Warden and the guards.
“Don’t worry about that,” Ripley agrees, and the cuffs open. A warmth spreads inside me as my power is no longer suppressed.
“You should shift first, Ethan. And keep your size small so they won’t notice.”
Ripley snorts. “We won’t make it if they do. Three Vermyllion Drakes against a simple dragon? You’re doomed before you’re even in the air.”
“Simple dragon?” Ethan scoffs, and the cuffs on his wrist jingle.
I shake my head and lean a bit closer. “Go shift. Hide your clothes for later,” I urge, and he nods stiffly, holding his hands out to Ripley.
Ripley fumbles quickly, breaking the cuffs free from Ethan’s wrists.
With a glance at the guards loading boxes of clothes, food, and necessities into the boat, Ethan moves into the forest, and it doesn’t take long before I feel a slight poke at my leg.
Peeking down, I see the smallest dragon I’ve ever seen staring up at me with his big eyes. I crouch down, running my fingers over his scaled head.
“Perfect,” I whisper and lift him in my arms .
“Now you, Ripley,” I say, and he focuses back on us. He takes a sharp step back as his brows knit together.
“Wait… How?”
“What? You’ve never seen an Azure Morpholith before?” I taunt. “Your speed means nothing against his ability.”
He blinks. “I’ll take that bet.”
“Ripley, go shift,” I press as I pet Ethan’s tiny form in my arms.
“I hope you’re ready for this fight, because I’m not,” I whisper to Ethan as Ripley’s dragon emerges behind the trees.
The ground trembles as he stalks closer, and our escape is caught by the Warden and guards.
My feet hit the ground with such speed, and I reach Ripley and climb on with Ethan curled under my arm as the guards shift into their dragons.
As I get into position, Ripley pushes off the ground, the wind cutting over my skin.
Cries and heat follow us, and I grip Ripley tighter as I lean forward.
As his wings slice through the air, he tucks them in as he dives to pick up speed. My thighs shake, but as Ethan’s dragon vibrates against me, using the joining of our bond, strength flows through my veins and my struggle fades.
Fire crackles around us as we swirl further, the ground coming closer, and I push Ripley to go on, waiting for the last second before we tilt up.
Trees fall, breaking under Ripley’s weight, and as his wings widen and push down, we change our direction. I tilt my body back, sharpening our move, and we’re off again.
Our followers fall back. They slow too much to make the corner, and Ripley quickens his wings as we continue to the dark, ashy cloud ahead.
Orange hues mix in the dark cloud, and the screeches become louder. I toss Ethan to my left, and he morphs into his normal size .
I don’t think as I climb to my feet and lean left as Ethan flies partly under Ripley.
“Don’t fall, don’t fall,” I mumble, and Ripley’s patience disappears as he turns his body, forcing me to jump down to Ethan.
I hold my scream as my stomach turns and tightens. My arms widen as I come closer. I can sense his heat on my body, but before I take my seat, he’s pushed aside by two wyverns and I drop further down.
I whip around, my eyes focused on Ethan and Ripley as they fight off the wyverns. Emerald and black scales filter through the dense smoke as battle cries hurt my ears.
As a greyish wyvern spots me, I tense my body, and he flings himself at me, his form a blur as he cuts toward me. I take a deep breath, grabbing the daggers from the sheaths on my legs. But just before the wyvern reaches me, jaws as black as the night snap around it, crushing it to death. Scales graze over me, and I dip my fingers into them, finding some to hold onto until I stop falling.
Putting the daggers between my teeth, I climb higher, curling behind his flapping wings until I sit behind his horned scales. Just like the first time, I grip them tightly. I lean closer, urging him to pick up speed as I scan around.
“Can’t believe you thought it was a good idea to try this on your own,” I mumble past the blades in my mouth, hoping he hears my words.
Fire crackles from his nostrils as he takes a sharp right. The ashy fog clears, and my throat closes. Wyverns are partly turned to ashes, their heads cracked open in agony.
“You couldn’t defeat him without…?” I ask, not needing the answer as I know he won’t use his second power again after he took all those souls from the Vermyllion Drakes .
Gliding my daggers back into their sheaths, an emerald dragon cuts past us, his wings scratching Ares’ side.
“That’s Hephaestus?” I ask, and Ares huffs some smoke.
Fire slashes past me, and Ares cries beneath me, anger boiling between my legs as fire leaves him.
I realize that Ares and I aren’t one, our bond unable to mend with Hephaestus alive and staking his claim on this world.
“Do it,” I urge, not knowing what his power would do to me, or Ethan and Ripley.
But I have to believe Ethan will be okay…
Ares shakes his head, and I sway on his back.
Ripley’s voice fills my mind. “He can’t control the reach of his power.”
The reach… control… “Can’t I help steer it?” I let the question repeat, hoping Ripley will hear and be the tether between me and Ares.
Silence fills me as Hephaestus takes the air again, and Ares follows suit, snapping at his tail, spitting fire.
It won’t be enough. It can never be enough as Hephaestus isn’t just a dragon.
“You can’t. You don’t wear his mark, so you can’t join powers,” Ripley says.
The joining… wait… Ethan.
“ Get Ethan. We need him here! ”
I lean back, pulling onto his horns. With a grumble, Ares follows, his wings pushing down as we lift up.
“Ethan has to be the link between us. I can join with him and you with… Just find him!”
We ascend higher with Hephaestus close behind us. I edge to the left, and Ares swirls in the sky as Hephaestus’s fire surrounds us.
As I glance back, an azure shimmer glints between Hephaestus’s wings. With a blink, the glint grows, his claws digging into Hephaestus’s shoulders. Cries of pain come from him, and Ethan closes his jaw around the back of Hephaestus’s neck.
“Turn around,” I yell, and Ares turns so quickly that I lose my grip, but with a tilt of his wing, I glide back into place.
“Can you join powers from here?” I ask as Ares closes in on Hephaestus, who’s trying to fight Ethan off his back. But as Ethan continues to change size, he stays out of Hephaestus’s reach.
Ares tilts back, his hind legs reaching forward, gripping Hephaestus’s front legs, pulling so hard that the scales on Hephaestus’s legs break off and cuts form.
“You have to touch each other for it to work!” Ripley’s scream in my head is deafening.
“You have to shift back toward Ethan. We have to touch each other for the joining to work!” I yell at Ares, and he releases his grip on Hephaestus’s front legs and curls his body over Hephaestus until we’re close to Ethan.
“Don’t let go!” I tell Ethan, and his claws jab deeper.
“Ripley, you need to leave, get away,” I plead, not wanting his death on my hands.
I glide off Ares’s back, his scales cutting into my skin, drawing blood, and I unsheathe my daggers. A groan escapes me as I find my balance on Hephaestus’s back. With a sharp breath, I plunge my daggers at the base of his wings. A cry breaks free from his throat as his wings slow and we begin losing altitude.
My fingers grip Ethan’s feet, feeling his scales soften under my touch, and I peek up.
“Do it!” I say with a nod. A sharp vibration rakes through his body and mine as our bodies, souls, and powers join, strengthening each other, healing our wounds .
Ares’ hind legs grip Hephaestus’s head, tightening his hold as I hear cracks moving through his skull. Ares’ front legs lift, his claws puncturing Ethan’s shoulder. A cry tears from Ethan’s throat as blood pours from the wounds.
Ares’ golden eyes, his black slits focus on me, a look filled with worry as we don’t know whether this would work, not knowing if his power will take us too, but we have to try if we want to repent and be free.
The gold in Ares’ scales sharpens. A pulse ripples through the air, and my lungs clench, taking my breath away as my skin dries and slices form.
Ethan struggles with his hold as Ares’ power weakens him.
“Come on, Ethan!” He has to bring all our strength, our magic, together. He’s the key to all this.
Ares’ power reaches beyond us. Wyverns fall from the sky, and a cry breaks through my heart.
“Ripley,” I breathe.
My hold on Ethan strengthens, and I focus on the ripples in the air, trying to contain them with the same sense I have when I order another with my words.
Strength builds low in my core as the waves change and tremble as they can’t reach further, can’t reach those who shouldn’t be harmed as it reaches within us—within Ares and me.
Hephaestus’s emerald scales turn to dust, peeling from his bones. His form contorts beneath us.
As the power grows in me, containing Ares’, tugging on this essence deep inside my soul, a scream rips from my throat, so raw that it’s the only sound I hear before we plummet to the ground.